U.S. patent application number 10/813245 was filed with the patent office on 2005-10-06 for acceleration and displacement sensor.
Invention is credited to Wang, Leao, Wu, Peter.
Application Number | 20050217371 10/813245 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35052762 |
Filed Date | 2005-10-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050217371 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Wang, Leao ; et al. |
October 6, 2005 |
Acceleration and displacement sensor
Abstract
The invention relates to an acceleration and displacement sensor
having a position signal generator, a signal-detecting and
arithmetic unit, a power supper unit and a rolling ball. The
position signal generator forms a closed space for defining the
movement path of the rolling ball. The position signal generator
includes a plurality of sensing terminals aligned to one another in
axial direction. Each sensing terminal represents a certain
position signal value. The position signal value of the sensing
terminal, where the rolling ball is located, will be continuously
given to the signal-detecting and arithmetic unit. When the rolling
ball is forced to move in axial direction, the signal-detecting and
arithmetic unit can calculate different position signal values and
obtain their change during a certain time period, thereby
determining the displacement distance and the acceleration
value.
Inventors: |
Wang, Leao; (Taiping,
TW) ; Wu, Peter; (Taiping, TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
KUO-HSIUNG CHIU
13F., NO.23, JIUN-HO STREET, PEITUN DISTRICT
TAICHUNG
406
TW
|
Family ID: |
35052762 |
Appl. No.: |
10/813245 |
Filed: |
March 31, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
73/488 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G01P 15/16 20130101;
G01P 15/00 20130101; G01P 15/135 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
073/488 |
International
Class: |
G01P 015/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An acceleration and displacement sensor comprising: a) a
position signal generator having a plurality of sensing terminals
aligned to one another in axial direction, the sensing terminal
each representing a certain position signal value; b) a rolling
ball movable within a closed space defined by the position signal
generator; c) a signal-detecting and arithmetic unit for receiving
and calculating the position signal value of the sensing terminal
where the rolling ball is located; and d) a power supper unit
connected to the signal-detecting and arithmetic unit, whereby,
when the rolling ball is forced to move in axial direction, the
signal-detecting and arithmetic unit can calculate different
position signal values and obtain their change during a certain
time period, thereby determining the displacement distance and the
acceleration value.
2. The acceleration and displacement sensor of claim 1 further
comprising an expansion spring attached to the rolling ball so that
the rolling ball is movable by an external force while it, after
being released, returns to its original position whose signal value
is null.
3. The acceleration and displacement sensor of claim 1 further
comprising a frame around the rolling ball so that the rolling ball
is movably received within the frame.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Fields of the Invention
[0002] The invention relates to an acceleration and displacement
sensor, and more particularly, to an apparatus utilizing a rolling
ball in interaction with sensing terminals for determing
displacement valve and for calculating acceleration value.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] A displacement sensor, as shown in FIG. 5, includes a
sensing coil 60 interacting with a cone 70. The cone 70 moves
within the sensing coil 60 for producing the change of inductance
frequency which can be converted to the displacement value in
micron or even nanometer by means of a signal amplifier 61, a
phase-shift circuit 62, a frequency deviation sensor 63 and a
displacement calculator 64. The signal amplifier 61, the
phase-shift circuit 62, the frequency deviation sensor 63 and the
displacement calculator 64 are normally integrated in a
microprocessor.
[0005] In the above-mentioned disclosure, it is claimed that the
sensing coil 60 can eliminate interference caused by the coil
magnetic field through a certain arrangement. Theoretically to say,
the interference is possibly overcome. However, many factors, like
coil specification, material purity, current intensity, current
stability, the preciseness of the coil arrangement, the connection
of the apparatus, etc. can produce magnetic interference.
Therefore, we are much skeptical about this solution with respect
to the detection preciseness and stability.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] In light of the demerits of the prior art, the invention
provides an acceleration and displacement sensor that aims to
ameliorate at least some of the disadvantages of the prior art and
to provide a useful alternative.
[0007] A primary objective of the invention is to provide an
acceleration and displacement sensor utilizing a rolling ball in
interaction with sensing terminals for determing the displacement
valve and for calculating the acceleration value.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] The accomplishment of this and other objects of the
invention will become apparent from the following description and
its accompanying drawings of which:
[0009] FIG. 1 is a schematic drawing of a first embodiment of the
invention;
[0010] FIG. 2 is a schematic drawing of a second embodiment of the
invention;
[0011] FIG. 3 is a schematic drawing of a third embodiment of the
invention;
[0012] FIG. 4 is a cutaway view of FIG. 3; and
[0013] FIG. 5 is a schematic drawing of a conventional displacement
sensor.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0014] Referring to FIG. 1, the acceleration and displacement
sensor in accordance with the invention includes a position signal
generator 20, a signal-detecting and arithmetic unit 30, a power
supper unit 40 and a rolling ball 50. The position signal generator
20 forms a closed space for defining the movement path of the
rolling ball 50.
[0015] The position signal generator 20 includes a plurality of
sensing terminals 22 aligned to one another in axial direction.
Each sensing terminal 22 represents a certain position signal
value. The position signal value of the sensing terminal 22, where
the rolling ball 50 is located, will be continuously given to the
signal-detecting and arithmetic unit 30. When the rolling ball 50
is forced to move in axial direction, the signal-detecting and
arithmetic unit 30 can calculate different position signal values
and obtain their change during a certain time period, thereby
determining the displacement distance and the acceleration
value.
[0016] As shown in FIG. 2, an expansion spring 52 is attached to
the rolling ball 50. The rolling ball 50 is movable by an external
force while it, after being released, returns to its original
position whose signal value is null.
[0017] In order to reduce the frictional force between the rolling
ball 50 and the sensing terminals 22 and to protect from deviation
of the operational value caused by the frictional force, the
rolling ball 50, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, can be movably received
in a frame 54.
[0018] Many changes and modifications in the above-described
embodiments of the invention can, of course, be carried out without
departing from the scope thereof. Accordingly, to promote the
progress in science and the useful arts, the invention is disclosed
and is intended to be limited only by the scope of the appended
claims.
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